History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 122

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio > Part 122

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MRS. MARGARET ROLOSON ; P. O. Tank- town ; was born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1814. Her father was born Feb. 4, 1763 ; her mother's maiden name was Catharine Kirk, born in August, 1769; both natives of Pennsylvania ; they emigrated to this State in 1817 ; located first in Berkshire, afterward moved to Berlin, where they died-the mother April 5, 1831, the father April 13, 1842. Mrs. Roloson was married in September, 1837, to Joseph Rolo- son, born April 20, 1800, in one of the Middle States ; his father lived to the age of 102 years. Early in life, Joseph learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for many years; he died in July, 1877, on the farm they located about the year 1852, and where Mrs. Roloson now lives. Five children were born to them-Simon, the eldest, lost his life in the battle of Gettysburg, as a member of the 4th O. V. I., his term had nearly expired ; Henrietta, or " Nettie ; Lemuel, served one year in Co. G of the 96th O. V. I., . lost his health and was discharged, and died at Columbus while on his way home; Louisa, now wife of W. H. Smith, of Kingston, and Fidelia, at home. Nettie was the wife of Chauncey W. Smith, son of Rodney Smith ; C. W. was ont in the 96th O. V. I., Co. G, served until the close of the war, and was a true and valiant soldier; he was taken prisoner at Atlanta July 22, 1864, and spent several months in rebel prisons, where his health was seriously impaired, which was the probable cause of his death-May 6, 1879 ; he kept a series of interesting accounts during his term of service. They were inarried August 30, 1865. During his life served as Township Clerk

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and other official stations, and was, at the time of his death, a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which the family are all members. Mr. Roloson had been one of the Elders for twenty years. Mrs. Smith has 100 acres of land.

UTLEY ROLOSON, farmer ; P. O. Alum Creek ; was born in the northeast corner of Ber- lin Township Dec. 30, 1826, in the same house where he now resides; he is the fifth child of Nathaniel Roloson, who was a native of Essex Co., and emigrated to this State in the year 1816, re- mained in Kingston one year, and the year fol- lowing came to Berlin. His wife's name was Phobe Rosecrans, cousin of Gen. Rosecrans, of military fame ; he was a permanent resident of this county, with the exception of two years spent in Marion Co .; he died in 1877, and his wife in 1865. Utley, at the age of 21, launched out for himself, and the May following, was married to Griscilda Myres, born in Berlin Township May 26, 1829; she is a daughter of John Myres, of Harrison Co., Va .; her mother's maiden name was Grace Roush, a native of this State; after their marriage, they located on the place where he now lives. Mr. Roloson was out in the three-months service; is a member of Co. H, 145th O. N. G. They have had seven children-Arthur (deceased), Alvin (an artist), Stephen, Byron (law student), Grace, Elmer and Lester. Mr. Roloson has a good snug farm, well managed, and has acquired a competency for himself and family ; is a man of good information, and loyal to the principles of Republicanism.

GEORGE W. RIDGEWAY, Constantia ; was born in Putnam Co., N. Y., in October, 1823; a son of Isaac Ridgeway, who died when George was 7 years of age. The Ridgeways are of En- glish descent ; three brothers came from England -one settled in New Jersey, one in Utica, and Isaac, the grandfather of George, after his return from the Revolutionary war, where he served eight years and one month, settled in Putnam Co. In the spring of 1836, George came out to this State, located in Berlin Township, on the farm where Mr. Saunders now lives. He left his step- father, when a lad in his teens, to carve out his own destiny ; began at $6 per month, and worked four years by the month, and at no time did his wages exceed $10 for a month's work ; subsequent to this, the Taylor land was offered for sale; he bought and traded in'real estate, and was success- ful in his investments, and as time advanced, be- came one among the prominent landholders of the

township. At the age of 22, he was married to Essie Andrus, born in this county ; her parents were from New York; her father's name was Timothy, and her mother's name, prior to her marriage, was Naamah Andrus ; after the marriage of Mr. Ridgeway, he located on the farm where he now resides ; his wife died July 2, 1864 ; two children were the result of their marriage-Cynthia, now the wife of C. J. Slough, of this township, and Josephine, at home. Mr. Ridgeway has been, for the last thirty years, one of the most prominent stock-dealers and traders in the county ; his bank- ers assert that for many years he has done busi- ness to the amount of $200,000 annually ; his farm consists of 350 acres of land. Was com- missioned as Captain, from Gov. Todd, during the late war, but, on account of sickness of his wife, he never served.

WILLIAM B. SHAW, farmer ; P. O. Tank- town; is the son of James L. Shaw, who was born in Prince William Co., Va., in March, 1795; he participated in the war of 1812, and emigrated to this State in 1817, stopping at Hamilton Co. where he remained until 1829, when he moved to Delaware City and married Sarah Shaw, who was born in 1800, and came to this State in 1811 with her people ; the senior Shaw was a cooper by trade, at which he worked until his settlement in Berlin in 1852. William B. was born Feb. 1," 1835, and received his elementary education in the common schools; he subsequently attended two years at the university. Aug. 23, 1866, he was married to Josephine Gardiner, daughter of R. C. Gardiner, who came to this State from New Jersey in 1842; she died in December, 1873, leaving four children-Jessie M .; Lydia I., Alfred and Alice ; Mr. Shaw was mar- ried. the second time, his last wife being Irene Merrick, sister of his first wife, Aug. 5, 1874; they had two children-Charles H. and Paul; his present wife had been a teacher for several years. After leaving Delaware, his father made several moves-first to the northwest corner of Berlin Township, remaining about four years; then had a residence of eleven years in Brown Township, and then settled in Berlin, where he has remained; his mother died in December, 1877; she had been a member of the M. E. Church for many years, of which William and wife are also mem- bers. Mr. Shaw has sixty-four acres of land; he has always been " a tiller of the soil."

ANCYL H. STANFORTH, tile manufact- urer ; P. O. Tanktown ; is a son of G. B. Stanforth,

BERLIN TOWNSHIP.

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of this township. He married Mary B. Osburn, daughter of Henry and Mary Osburn; the cere- mony was celebrated, in December, 1877 ; he has heen, for three years past, a resident of Radnor Township ; he recently bought J. T. Cartnell's interest in the tile manufactory, associating with his brother-in-law, Andrew Osburn, in the same business, under the firm name of Osburn & Stan- forth. Mr. and Mrs. S. have one child-Pearl Sumner; he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of Olen- tangy Lodge, I. O. O. F.

CHARLES E. SMITH, farmer ; P. O. Tank- town ; born in this township Jan. 1, 1836, and is the fourth son of Rodney Smith, one of the old settlers in this township; he received an ele- mentary education at the district common school, and completed it at the college in Delaware ; he taught school several terms during the winter, and, in the summer, turned his attention to farming. Aug. 27, 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 32d O. V. I., and reënlisted Dec. 25, 1863, and served until the close of the war ; he participated in twenty-one engagements, and escaped without a wound; some of the more important were McDowell, Harper's Ferry, Fort Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Cham- pion Hills, Black River, Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro'; he kept a diary during the entire term of his service, which makes a valuable record of events during an inter- esting part of his life; Mr. Smith received his discharge July 27, 1865 ; upon his return, he resumed farming. Nov. 15, 1866, he was mar- ried to Anna Twining, who was born Sept. 11, 1838, in Licking Co .; she is the daughter of Hiram Twining, a pioneer of Licking Co .; her mother's name was Lovey Pease; she was a native of Maine, and her father was a native of Massa-' chusetts; Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived on the home- stead one year, and then moved to their present place of abode; they have two children-Edward and Ernest. Mr. Smith and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church ; they have a good home and eighty acres of land.

RODNEY SMITH, farmer ; P. O. Alum Creek ; is a native of Massachusetts, born in the town of Washington, Berkshire Co., March 11, 1801 ; son of William Smith, from Connecticut ; his mother's name was Lucinda, of the Witters family. Mr. Smith came out with his parents in a wagon, in 1816; the trip occupied thirty-five days ; first settled in the north of Berkshire; they brought with them four horses, a small cow

and three pigs ; what horses he has since raised, are descendants from one of the number brought. Rodney always remained at home. At about the age of 28, he was married to a Miss Reynolds, born in New York ; she died April 19,, 1866. For many years after he came to the county, money was very rare indeed ; everything went by barter ; salt about $4 per barrel ; corn they could not sell; would sometimes get it distilled into whisky, getting about three quarts to the bushel, which would sell for 25 cents per gallon ; has sold steers at less than 1 cent per pound, and sold dressed hogs at $1.25 per hundred, part pay in money and the balance in orders ; made their own clothes out of wool and flax ; yet they were suffi- cient for the time. After his marriage, Mr. Smith settled on the place where he now lives. They have had eleven children ; six now living- Albert C., Lucius D., in McLean Co., Ill., Charles E., Thomas, Rose B. and Ralph. Several of his boys were in the late war-George W., in Co. G, 96th O. V. I. (died at Memphis); Chauncey W., in the 20th O. V. I .; Albert, in the 121st O. V. I .; Charles, in the 22d O. V. I .; Lucins, in the 100-day service. Mr. Smith cast his first vote for Harrison, and has never missed voting at an election when able to go. He has a large farm under good cultivation.

GEORGE B. STANFORTH, farmer ; P O. Tanktown ; born Oct. 12, 1824, in Rockingham Co., Va .; the youngest of a family of two chil- dren, born to William and Helender ( Matheney) Stanforth, both natives of the "Old Dominion" State. Geo. B. was 5 years of age when he came West with his parents, arriving in Morrow Co. in 1829 ; stayed with his parents until 24 years of age. Oct. 11, 1848, he was united in wedlock to Minerva Gibson, native of Delaware Co .; daugh- ter of Robert Gibson, from Pennsylvania. After his marriage, he located in Berkshire, where he lived six years ; in 1864, sold out and moved to Pike Co .; in 1872, moved to Berlin, near the Pike, where he has since lived ; has five children -Mary (now Mrs. Colflesh), Ancyl H., Emma, Frankie and George. Has been for many years a member of the M. E. Church, and is now Trustee of the township.

GEORGE SACKETT, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Tanktown; born in this township Feb. 27, 1840 ; only son of Augustin Sackett, a native of Delaware Co .; his mother's name, before marriage, was Mary E. George, a native of New Hampshire, born July 22, 1813, and came to this State when

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she was but 6 years of age ; they located in this township in 1837, on Alum Creek, and two years later came to this place ; his father died Oct. 13, 1862; George had good educational advantages. In August, 1862, enlisted in the 96th O. V. I. for three years ; he remained out one year, and was discharged on account of disability. April 10, 1864, he married Mary E. Roloson, daughter of Joel Roloson ; she died June, 1871, leaving two boys-Francis and Howard ; his second marriage took place July 13, 1876, with Anna Emerson, who was born Aug. 2, 1856, in this township, daughter of Capt. Silas Emerson, who lost his life in the late war as commanding officer of Co. K, 121st O. V. I .; her mother's maiden name was Nancy A. Farris. Mr. Sackett has served two terms as Sheriff of this county, with due credit to himself and marked satisfaction to the people ; is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, both Lodge and Chapter, at Delaware ; has 285 acres of land, well improved, and is a successful farmer.

ELIJAH SHADE, farmer ; P. O. Tanktown ; was born in Frederick Co., Va., Jan. 25, 1823 ; is the second child of a family of fourteen children, born to Phillip and Catharine (Shorky) Shade, who were natives of the Old Dominion ; Elijah came to this State, with his parents, in the year 1828, who located in Logan Co. ; his father en- tered the land upon which he settled and lived until his death ; at the time of their settlement, Indi- ans were to be seen in considerable numbers; no roads, except the Indian trail and the pathway blazed with the tomahawk. Mr. Shade remained with his parents until he was in his 24th year, when he was married to Emeline Potter, May 26, 1846; she is a daughter of Edward and Abigail (Denison) Potter, who were natives of Connecti- cut, the former of New London, and the latter of Saybrook ; he came out in the year 1821, and is now a resident of Delaware. After the marriage of Mr. Shade, they located in Logan Co., and, in 1852, moved to this county, locating permanently in Berlin Township, where he purchased land ; they have had four children-Harriet, Leroy, Francis and Phillip. Mr. Shade was out in the 100-day service, Co. H, 145th O. N. G .; he has ,acquired what property he has through his own exertions, having been reasonably successful.

LEWIS SLACK, farmer; P. O. Constantia ; born in Galena, Berkshire Township, Dec. 5, 1824 ; son of Capt. Henry Slack, who commanded a company in the war of 1812; he was a native of the Wyoming Valley, Penn .; came here in 1807,

and afterward located at Galena ; he commanded the first company of light infantry formed in this county ; he died at Galena in 1830. Lewis' moth- er's name before marriage was Mary Denton ; she was a native of Orange Co., N. Y .; came here in 1805; died Dec. 25, 1875, at the age of 83 years. Lewis was the second of the family of four living children ; he was raised up at Galena, and was 5 years of age when his father died; he remained with his mother until he was 25 years of age, then made a trip to California, where he worked in the mines ; was gone nearly two years, returning in December, 1851. Nov. 15, 1853, was married to Minerva Utley, who was born in Berkshire in 1830 ; she is a daughter of Hon. Amos Utley, born in Windham Co., Conn., in 1793, and emi- grated to this State in 1820; he filled several offices of trust in his time, as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, Treasurer, and represented this county in the Legislature in 1830 ; now living with his daughter, Mrs. Slack. Before marriage, her mother's name was Sarah Stark, a native of Orange Co., N. Y .; came here in 1815; born in 1802, died in Berkshire, February, 1872. Mr. Slack has two children-Howard and Clara. Mr. Slack moved to this township in 1872; has 116 acres of land.

G. W. STOVER, farmer and trader; P. O. Lewis Center; was born in Fairfield Co. Aug. 25, 1826 ; youngest but one of a family of five children born to Benjamin and Sarah (Chilcutt) Stover, both natives of Hardy Co., Va .; they moved to Fair- field Co. in 1811. Benjamin was a participant in the war of 1812; remained in Fairfield Co. until the year 1856, when he moved to Berlin and lived until he died in 1860. George commenced teach- ing school before he became of age, which he con- tinued, during the winter season, for several years -in all eighteen terms-working on the farm dur- ing the summer. In his 24th year, was married to Elizabeth Green, born in Licking Co. in' 1830, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Malone. He moved to Berlin Township in the year 1856, and bought 146 acres of land, and has since been en- gaged in cultivating the same. October, 1872, he began business in Lewis Center, in the grocery and grain trade, being the only grain-dealer in the place ; buys and ships about 30,000 bushels an- nually ; he also carries on his farm ; has four chil- dren-Melissa, Mary E., Benjamin F., Samantha N. Mr. Stover is a member of the United Breth- ren Church ; has been prominently associated with that body since its organization in that locality ;

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the church building is located on land which he donated for its site.

STEPHEN P. THRALL, farmer; P. O. Con- stantia. Stephen was born in this township April 25, 1843; the son of Arza and Mary G. (Chand- ler) Thrall ; the former came to this State from Chenango Co., N. Y., about one-half century ago, and since has been a resident of the county. At the age of 18, Stephen enlisted in Co. D, 20th O. V. I., and, at the expiration of three years, re- enlisted at Atlanta, Ga., serving until the termin- ation of the war. He was wounded at Raymond, and, while in hospital, the Confederates captured them ; after thirteen days they were paroled and sent into the lines at Vicksburg ; his first engage- ment was at Fort Donelson ; while there, and assisting in guarding 1,400 prisoners on the boat, they formed a plot to overpower the guard and escape, but the secret leaked out just as they were about to execute it, when Maj. McElroy, with pistol, covered the pilot, and ordered him to " pull for the middle of the stream," and, with sixty-five heavily loaded guns, with bayonets bristling at them, the prisoners were prevented from consum- mating their plan of escape. In March, 1866, Mr. Thrall was married to Evaline M. Gilson, born in Geauga Co .; they have five children-Rose A., Myrtie L., Annie M., Charles E., George W. They moved to the homestead in 1878.

GEORGE WHITMAN, farmer ; P. O. Con- stantia ; was born Feb. 8, 1846, the son of Ezra and Lydia (Fairbanks) Whitman; Ezra was a native of Maine, and came West about the year 1838-39, and settled in Franklin Co., where George was born ; he being the third of a family of eight children ; he remained with his parents until he enlisted in Co. K, 121st O. V. I., for three years, and served about one year, when he was discharged on account of disability, when he came to this county and was united by marriage

to Mary Cole, born Nov. 22, 1849, in Franklin ; is a daughter of Alonzo and Sarah (Caldwell) Cole ; subsequent to his return from service, he was engaged one year, at Cheshire, in the mercan- tile business; then moved his stock to Licking Co. and sold out; in 1870, he went to Putnam Co., where he was for five years engaged in the saw- mill business ; then moved to this township, and, subsequently bought 114 acres of land, the place being known as the Eaton farm, situated on the pike near the town house; has four children- Carrie A., Charles, Rolland and Florence. He is a member of the Baptist Church.

CHARLES WILCOX, farmer; P. O. Con- stantia; born in Licking Co. Oct. 30, 1834; is a son of Martin Wilcox, a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y., who married Charlotte Aller, born in Vir- ginia. Charles was the eldest of a family of eight children ; he had poor school advantages; re- mained with his father until his 23d year. July 9, 1857, married Hannah Williamson, born in Franklin Co. in 1838, daughter of Jonathan and Clarinda Williamson ; lived in Union Co. eleven years, where he bought and improved a farm; in the spring of 1870, moved to Berlin Township on the State road, and bought the Kelsie farm of 100 acres, which has on it an adobe house, the only (known) one in this country ; they have had five children, three living-Chloe J., Annie C. and Lizzie Z .; Lizzie (the second) and Leonard, de- ceased. Leonard died with putrid sore throat while visiting his uncle in Franklin Co., he it seems had a presentiment of his death many months ere it occurred, he was very patient during his painful illness, and manifested a fortitude sur- passing his years ; his death occurred Oct. 24, 1873, he was about 8 years of age. Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Wesleyan M. E. Church. Mr. Wilcox is favorably disposed to all civil and relig- ious societies.

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ORANGE . TOWNSHIP.

E. ABBOTT, farmer ; P. O. Lewis Center. This gentleman ranks among the self-made men of the township ; was born in Licking Co. July 13, 1826 ; is the oldest of a family of ten children. His father, Jonathan Abbott, was born in Penn- sylvania ; his wife (Adah Wright) was born in Maryland ; after their marriage, they located in Licking Co., where they lived until his death, about the year 1848; Abram Wright, her father, was one of the early pioneers, and built and ran the first store in Newark. Ezekiel, in early life, was enabled to get sufficient education to teach school, which he followed for several terms. At the age of 23, was married to Martha E. Pressley ; she died three years afterward, leaving no issue. Subsequent to his marriage, he clerked in a store at Mt. Vernon ; then ran a water-mill about two years, then went on his mother's farm and worked it until 1857, when he moved to Delhi, where he bought a saw-mill and engaged in the lumber busi- ness ; bought a large amount of walnut and cut it for the market; continued it about fifteen years doing a large and prosperous business; he then' traded his mill for a farm northwest of Delaware, where he lived two years, and in 1875 moved to his present place, where he bought 137 acres of land, which has' first class improvements thereon ; has been engaged in farming and raising sheep ; intends soon to make a specialty of the latter. In 1855, married Miss Eleanor J. Reed, born in Licking Co. in 1830, daughter of Nelson Reed; they have two children-Albert C., born July 6, 1865; Edward W., Feb. 28, 1868. Mr. Abbott and wife are both members of the M. E. Church. . Mr. Abbott never has solicited office, yet has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for fifteen years while in Radnor Township.

WASHINGTON BURT, farmer and stock- raiser; P. O. Flint; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1813, the fifth of nine children. His father, Daniel, was a native of Connecticut. His wife's name before marriage was Sarah Foght, of German extraction. John Morris Foght, the grand- father of Washington Burt, was a Captain during the Revolutionary war, and was for many years after a pensioner. Washington began to do for himself at the age of 16; in 1832, when in his 21st year, he and three of his brothers came to

Coshocton Co., and located on the Muskingum River, at the town of Coshocton, where they joined land. Sept. 26, 1839, he was married to Georgi- ana Fisk, born Nov. 14, 1818, daughter of Jona- than Fisk, from Massachusetts, who came to New York in 1825; his wife's name before her mar- riage was Susan Williams. After Mr. Burt came West he began to clear his wooded land, lived several years in a log house ; remained there about thirty-two years ; the same land is now within the corporate limits of Coshocton; in the spring of 1865, they sold out and moved to this place ; he has 330 acres of good land, all of which is under culti- vation ; has also a farm in Coshocton Co. He began life with an old team of horses and $100 in money; this was the "nest egg," and since, by hard labor and good management, has acquired a competency ; they have had ten children, all are living-Ellen, Georgiana, Charles W., Maria, Emma, Sarah A., Susan, George W., Allen D. and Clara; the two elder are married and living in Coshocton ; Maria and Emma married brothers ; Sarah and Susan are also married, and living in Franklin Co .; Charles in Kansas ; George and Allen in business in Flint, Franklin Co., and Clara at home. Mr. Burt is favorably disposed to all religious denominations, yet the doctrine of Uni- versalism is more in harmony with his belief than others ; during the rebellion was a War Democrat ; had one son and two sons-in-law in the army; since the war has been a Republican.

JAMES BALE, farmer; P. O. Westerville ; came to this townshipin 1849; he was born in Sus- sex Co., N. J., in March, 1797; the son of Henry and Abigail (Current) Bale, who were also natives of New Jersey. In the early part of James' life, he learned the trade of millwright, which he followed for several years; subsequently, he entered the milling business, with two of his brothers ; they manufactured some cloth, but their principal busi- ness was fulling and dressing, which they followed successfully for several years ; James finally sold out to his brothers, and resumed the millwright business, which he pursued until he cast his fort- unes in the West. July 8, 1826, he was mar- ried to Sarah Havens, a native of New Jersey ; they had seven children, four living-Abigail, John H., Mary A. and David, who is on the

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homestead, and was married Oct. 5, 1865, to Dul- cina Hulburt, a daughter of Lee Hulburt, one of the old residents of the county ; they have five children-Edwin F., Louie L., James, Ezra and 'a babe, unnamed. After their marriage, they lived on a farm he had bought, north of the home- stead, three years ; then sold out and moved to his father's farm, situated on the west side of Alum Creek. David has always been identified with Democracy, as also has his father.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio, Part 122

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: O. L. Baskin & Co; Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 818